Potential attacks by AQAP in Sana'a

By Fatik al-Rodaini

April 1, 2012

SANA'A: Informed security and military officials in the Yemen's capital Sana'a revealed on Sunday they believe al-Qaeda had sneaked armed militants into the heart of the capital as it was planning to attack security leaders and facilities in Sana'a.

The sources told Bikyamasr.com that the Islamists are believed to be preparing for a series of attacks on local representatives and security facilities in the province as a response to attacks led by armed forces against their Yemeni and American air forces killing and wounding scores of them.

 Yemen Interior Ministry warned on its website against a potential terrorist attacks would target vital economic installations in Yemen's capital, Sana'a.

The Ministry said that at least 300 AQAP elements were deployed in Azzan town, Shabwa province, amongst whom were Ibrahim Al-Banaa, an Egyptian national, Qassem Al-Raimi, the military leader, and Shaker Hamel, who is described as the most dangerous elements of the Al-Qaeda. The AQAP elements  are believed to be preparing for a series of attacks on local representatives and security facilities in the province. Moreover, the group is said to be planning a further expansion of its Islamic Emirate by seizing Mukallah, the regional capital of Hadhramout.

Earlier this day, at least seven Yemeni soldiers were killed, and others wounded , some of them in critical condition in an attack believed to be conducted by Ansar Al-Sharea, a militant group with link to Al-Qaeda in Yemen's southern province of Hadhramout, a day after clashes with extremist fighters in which at least 30 troops were killed.

Yemen's Defense Military blamed on al-Qaeda militants.

The attack was the latest in a series that officials have blamed on an al-Qaeda-linked extremist group that controls swathes of territory in southern Yemen.

The group, Ansar al-Sharia, said it had killed about 30 Yemeni troops in an assault on a military checkpoint in the southern province of Abyan, one of several where it controls territory.

The details of its claim could not be verified.

The group has escalated its attacks on the military since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took office in February vowing to fight militants.

 A suicide attack at a military base killed 26 people hours after he was sworn in.

The Yemeni military launched several airstrikes in southern Yemen following the killing of some 110 soldiers in Abyan in early March, while US government officials have confirmed that US drones targeted suspected al-Qaeda fighters in recent days.